System and method for indicating an annotation for a document

• US 20040250201A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Caspi, Rami
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Embodiments provide a system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code that allow multiple annotations to a document to be created and that distinguish between the annotations made by different people. The people may view documents, exchange ideas and messages, etc. via a server or conference/collaboration system at different times and/or without being in direct communication with each other. In such an off-line collaboration mode, the people may want to add listen to, view, or add annotations regarding one or more documents. The methods and systems described herein allow users to follow the trail of annotations regarding a document and to distinguish between the voice or other audible annotations created by other people.

Claims

1. A method for associating an annotation with a document, comprising:

associating an audible annotation with a document;

associating a person with said audible annotation;

establishing an identifier associated with said person;

providing data indicative of said annotation; and

providing data indicative of said identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein associating an audible annotation with a document includes obtaining an audible annotation made by said person.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating a person with said audible annotation includes determining said person.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing an identifier associated with said person includes establishing a distinct icon for each person associated with said document.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing data indicative of said annotation includes providing said annotation in conjunction with said document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing data indicative of said annotation includes providing an icon indicative of an existence of said annotation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing an icon indicative of existence of said annotation includes providing an icon indicative of an existence of said annotation in conjunction with said document.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing data indicative of said identifier includes providing said identifier in conjunction with said document.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing data indicative of said identifier includes providing an icon indicative of an existence of said annotation and of a relationship between said annotation and said person.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining an audible annotation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an icon indicative of said annotation and said person.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple people are associated with said document and each of said multiple people have a distinct identifier used to associate different of said multiple people with different annotations associated with said document by said different of said multiple people.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing said annotation.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for said annotation.

12. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying said icon in conjunction with display of said document.

16. A method for associating an annotation with a document, comprising:

associating a plurality of people with a document;

associating a different identifier to each of said plurality of people;

associating an audible annotation made by a first of said plurality of people to said document; and

associating said first of said plurality of people'"'"'s respective identifier to said document.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing said first of said plurality of people'"'"'s respective identifier in conjunction with said document.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying said first of said plurality of people'"'"'s respective identifier in conjunction with display of said document.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a request for said annotation.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing said annotation.

21. A system for associating an annotation with a document, comprising:

a network;

at least one client device operably coupled to said network; and

a server operably coupled to said network, said server adapted to

associate an audible annotation with a document;

associate a person with said audible annotation;

establish an identifier associated with said person;

provide data indicative of said annotation to said at least one client device; and

provide data indicative of said identifier to said at least one client device.

22. A system for associating an annotation with a document, comprising:

a memory;

a communication port; and

a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;

associate an audible annotation with a document;

associate a person with said audible annotation;

establish an identifier associated with said person;

provide data indicative of said annotation; and

provide data indicative of said identifier.

23. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for associating an annotation with a document, comprising:

first instructions for associating an audible annotation with a document;

second instructions for associating a person with said audible annotation;

third instructions for associating an identifier with said person;

fourth instructions for sending data indicative of said annotation; and

fifth instructions for sending data indicative of said identifier.